Malpighia glabra

Malpighia glabra, commonly known as the Barbados cherry, is a tropical and subtropical shrub or small tree belonging to the Malpighiaceae family. This evergreen plant, which can grow up to 12 feet tall, is cultivated for its tart, edible fruits. These fruits are exceptionally rich in vitamin C and are utilized in preserves and commercial vitamin production.1

The plant is native to the West Indies and extends south from Texas to northern South America. Its flowers are pink or rosy and appear throughout the summer, while the red fruit resembles a cherry in size and is classified as a drupe. There has been some taxonomic confusion between Malpighia glabra and another species commonly called Barbados cherry, Malpighia emarginata. The genus Malpighia itself encompasses tropical American shrubs and trees characterized by a glandular calyx and drupaceous fruit.12